Cronin told Brown that he has been in the position of SACP deputy secretary for 22 years.

He says it is time for new energy and new blood but says if he gets elected into the Central Committee he will continue to play a role in leading the party

— Karima Brown, political analyst

With speculation that second deputy general secretary Solly Mapaila will not be contesting Blade Nzimande for the general secretary position, Cronin said there is a need for both continuity and new blood.

It will be interesting to see if Mr Mapaila will make it to the position of first deputy secretary.

— Karima Brown, political analyst

She says the SACP is currently extremely unhappy with the ANC and the direction the alliance is going in.

There will be a careful observation of the balance of forces in the ANC...and the SACP will likely peg its approach to elections based on what comes out of the ANC elective conference.

— Karima Brown, political analyst

She suspects the question of whether the SACP goes to the polls with a united front involving other organisations in the 2019 elections will depend on whether Jacob Zuma's candidate wins.

We might have a completely different configuration of the political landscape in the alliance, she adds.

Many people speaking of the possibility of the split...and at this SACP will probably but itself some time.

— Karima Brown, political analyst

Listen to this and the developing story about Baleka Mbete and the secret ballot vote below: